Finance Cluster:

The Finance program prepares learners for careers in financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management. Career opportunities are available in every sector of the economy and requires individuals working in finance to have strong computation, analytical, and interpersonal skills. Rigorous instruction is provided to equip learners with knowledge and skills for college and career readiness. Extended learning experiences to enrich and enhance instruction is reinforced through learner participation in career and technical student organizations (FBLA).

Courses:

Accounting

Accounting is a one-credit course designed to help students understand the basic principles of the accounting cycle. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to basic financial accounting, including analyzing and recording business transactions, preparing and interpreting financial statements, demonstrating generally accepted accounting principles, and performing banking and payroll activities.

Banking and Financial Services

Banking and Financial Services is a one-credit course designed to help students develop skills related to banking and related services as they process customer transactions, maintain cash drawer, process documents, and respond to customer requests to provide other customer services. Students employ technical skills to perform data processing functions as well as to perform new account functions. Applicable skills are utilized by practicing lending functions, including aiding the customer in determining the best loan alternative; processing the customer’s application to include appropriate information; and processing the loan to complete transactions.

Financial Management

Financial Management is a one-credit course designed to provide students with an overview of financial and investment planning procedures. Students interpret financial data to develop short- and long-term budgetary plans, produce accurate reports, and make informed business decisions. Students develop product knowledge related to financial and investment planning by examining characteristics for distinguishing among stocks, bonds, and commodities and between insurance and annuity products.

Senior Career Pathway Project

Senior Career Pathway Project (SCPP) is a capstone course designed for career and technical education students who have completed two or more career and technical education courses. This course allows students to utilize their secondary coursework through an experience that showcases their learning. It provides an opportunity for a student to choose an area of interest and engage in an in-dept exploration of the area while demonstrating problem-solving, decision-making, and independent-learning skills. The SCPP contributes to an educational plan of challenging courses and practical experiences that prepares students for the workplace or for pursuing further education.

During the SCPP the student works with his or her coordinating teacher, academic teachers, and with a product or process mentor who has expertise in the student’s field of study. At the conclusion of the SCPP, the student presents or demonstrates knowledge gained to an audience consisting of the coordinating teacher, academic teachers, the product or process mentor, peers, and community and business representatives